Best Lakes for Swimming Near Willmar
Minnesota
13 swimming lakes within driving distance of Willmar, Minnesota, ranked by water quality and swimming-specific filters. Filtered for grade A or B water quality, low algae (chlorophyll-a under 15 µg/L), and public access. Always check local advisories on the day you swim.
A moderate cluster of 13 graded lakes lies within reach of Willmar, averaging a grade of B. George Lake (A) is the cleanest of the set.
The swimming-specific ranking layered on top of the LakeGrade rubric is what produces the list below: a grade-good lake that does not also support the swimming use case is less useful than a grade-decent lake that does.
| # | Lake | County | Grade | Distance | Clarity | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Lake | Kandiyohi | A | 8.9 mi | 15 ft | - |
| 2 | Elkhorn Lake | Kandiyohi | A | 7.8 mi | 14.1 ft | - |
| 3 | Henderson Lake | Kandiyohi | A | 7.9 mi | 13.5 ft | - |
| 4 | Green Lake | Kandiyohi | A | 11.7 mi | 13.1 ft | - |
| 5 | Long Lake | Kandiyohi | A | 16.6 mi | 10.5 ft | - |
| 6 | Minnie-Belle Lake | Meeker | A | 25.9 mi | 13.5 ft | - |
| 7 | Linka Lake | Pope | A | 30 mi | 10.2 ft | - |
| 8 | Florida Lake | Kandiyohi | B | 9.1 mi | 12.5 ft | - |
| 9 | Crow River Mill Pond | Kandiyohi | B | 13.1 mi | 10.2 ft | - |
| 10 | Scandinavian Lake | Pope | B | 27.2 mi | 7.7 ft | - |
| 11 | Pirz Lake | Stearns | B | 28.6 mi | 11.2 ft | - |
| 12 | Manuella Lake | Meeker | B | 29.4 mi | 10 ft | - |
| 13 | Calhoun Lake | Kandiyohi | B | 14.6 mi | 7.3 ft | - |
Other activities near Willmar
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.